IPLI Design Team

Dr. Linda Marrs-Morford – Director

Dr. Marrs-Morford was named Director of the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute in July 2013. Prior to IPLI, she was a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. During her 12 years at Eastern, Linda also served as department chair for four years and was Director of the NewLeaders Assistance Service, a mentoring and induction program for new principals. She was also Director of the EIU Administrators Roundtable, a professional development program for over 150 administrators. In addition to numerous state and national presentations and publications, Linda was secretary/treasurer of the Illinois Council of Professors of Educational Administration for twelve years and President of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration from 2006-2007. Dr. Marrs-Morford has received several state and federal grants totaling over $1 million.

She received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Administration in 2001 from the University at Albany. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration (University of Albany), Master of Science degree in Teacher Education (Purdue University), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education (Purdue University). She has a total of eight years of building-level administration experience. Dr. Marrs-Morford was also a member of the first women’s varsity basketball team at Purdue University.

Dr. Monahan is the Principal Program Coordinator at Indiana State University in the Educational Leadership Department. She is a former Fellowship Recipient at Indiana State University. She has earned her B.S. in Secondary English Education, M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, M.S. in Administration and Supervision, Ed.S. in Educational Administration, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. She has experience as a middle school teacher and principal. Her scholarship interests include Educational Reform, Mentoring, and Curriculum Instruction.

Dr. Bess is the Executive Director for the Indiana Association of School Principals. He has served previously as a math teacher, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Dr. Bess earned his Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University and his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Purdue University. He then attended Indiana State University, earning both his Superintendents License and his Ph.D. Dr. Bess serves as adjunct faculty for Ball State University supervising graduate students who are earning their principals license, and also as affiliate faculty for Indiana State University where he instructs in the Ph.D. program. Todd and his wife, Tonya, who teaches 8th grade Language Arts, both enjoy traveling and attending events for their four children.

Dr. Donlan is a faculty member at Indiana State University’s Department of Educational Leadership. He has served for twenty years in K-12 education, serving most of that time as a Superintendent, as well as a school-building leader for at-risk students. He is a public speaker and visionary for the future of public education, serving in years past as Michigan’s Past Chairperson for High School Redesign for the Michigan Department of Education where he represented the Department at statewide and national functions. Dr. Donlan, once a frequent skydiver, today enjoys more conservative, contemporary pursuits, such as cooking, reading, and camping, and he has written and published a book on classroom teaching. He is currently publishing his second book, a collaboratively-written parable on the principalship.You can follow Dr. Donlan on Twitter at www.twitter/ryandonlan, or on the Indiana State University’s on-line “Ed. Leadershop,” where he offers thoughtful commentary each week to school leaders at www.k12edleadershipatISU.blogspot.com.

Dr. McDaniel serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership in the Bayh College of Education at Indiana State University where he teaches Philosophy of Educational Leadership, School Law, Administration of School Personnel, Contemporary Problems in Education, and Leadership Theory. He advises the Ph.D. and Ed.S. programs in Educational Leadership, and the licensing programs for the Director of Exceptional Needs, Director of Career and Technical Education, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. McDaniel is the Executive Director of the Educational Advisory Council and Director of Administrative Placement. He has served as an elementary school teacher, a principal and superintendent of public schools. His teaching and research interests include leadership theory and characteristics of successful leaders. He also serves as chair for over 35 dissertation committees.

Dr. Whitaker has been fortunate to be able to blend his passion with his career. Recognized as a leading presenter in the field of education, his message about the importance of teaching has resonated with hundreds of thousands of educators around the world. Todd is a professor of educational leadership at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, and he has spent his life pursuing his love of education by researching and studying effective teachers and principals. Prior to moving into higher education he was a math teacher and basketball coach in Missouri. Todd then served as a principal at the middle school, junior high, and high school levels. He was also a middle school coordinator in charge of staffing, curriculum, and technology for the opening of new middle schools. One of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness, Todd has written over 30 books including the national best seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently. Other titles include: Shifting The Monkey, Dealing With Difficult Teachers, 10 Minute Inservice, The Ball, What Great Principals Do Differently, Motivating & Inspiring Teachers, and Dealing With Difficult Parents. Todd is married to Beth, also a former teacher and principal, who is a professor of Elementary Education at Indiana State University. They are the parents of three children; Katherine, Madeline, and Harrison.

Dr. Gruenert is the lead designer of the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute. Dr. Gruenert has a Ph.D. in Research and Human Relations and a M.Ed. in Principalship, Leadership and Supervision. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana where he attended Indianapolis Public Schools until 7th grade and then moved to Warren Township. He graduated in 1975 and enlisted in the Air Force where he served in Missouri. He attended college at the University of Central Missouri where he received his bachelor’s, master’s, and education specialist’s degrees. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Missouri in 1998. He has experience as an art teacher, assistant principal, principal, and is currently a professor and chair in the Department of Educational Leadership at ISU. Dr. Gruenert is also an avid golfer and fisherman.